The ACT government will spend $6 million on a 3.2km-long cycling route around Civic expected to be completed sometime in 2014.

The Civic Cycle Loop will follow Marcus Clarke, Rudd, Bunda and Allara streets, connecting to the Sullivans Creek and Lake Burley Griffin cycle paths that feed into the city.

A special design competition is being held for the Bunda Street section of the route.

An artist's view of a section of the cycle loop.

The ACT Greens have again suggested the busy thoroughfare should be changed to one-way traffic or made car-free during the day, except for taxis and disabled drivers or passengers.

The Civic Cycle Loop was identified as a priority project in 2009 with Territory and Municipal Services Minister Katy Gallagher announcing yesterday that work had started on the project.

''We know that in order to encourage more people onto bikes, safe infrastructure needs to be provided. This project will do that,'' she said.

The first stage of construction is on Rudd Street, connecting Marcus Clarke Street and Northbourne Avenue. It will provide 240m of 1.8m-wide on-road cycle lanes on either side of the street. Work on this section is due for completion in October.

Marcus Clarke Street will be the second section constructed, followed by Bunda and Allara streets. The entire project is due for completion in 2014.

Ms Gallagher said the most complicated section of the cycle loop was along Bunda Street between Mort and Akuna streets, due to the high pedestrian and traffic volumes and its popularity as a retail and hospitality strip.

''Three separate, highly qualified and experienced urban design consultants have been engaged to participate in a design competition for this section of the loop. Each consultant will put forward their best design for this space which will then be put to the community to comment on. This will be undertaken towards the end of 2012,'' she said.

ACT Greens territory and municipal services spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur said the Greens were delighted work had started.

''I think the key word is 'finally'. This project has been around for a long time,'' she said.

However, Ms Le Couteur said the Greens did believe the $6 million project would be worth the wait - and the money.

''I'm constantly amazed by how expensive projects are. I think something that works well around the city is going to make a difference … I think it'll be really highly used,'' she said.

The Greens had previously suggested Bunda Street be made one-way or car-free during the day, although Ms Le Couteur said they were happy as long as pedestrians and cyclists were given priority in the design.

''The solution will end up restricting car use in that area but I don't think it will be a big loss,'' she said, adding the high volume of foot traffic across pedestrian crossings in Bunda Street already made it a difficult area for vehicles.

Pedal Power executive officer John Armstrong said the lobby group believed the government had been ''pretty consultative in this process'' and hoped the Marcus Clarke Street section would be completed before the end of the year because it would provide the critical link between the Sullivans Creek and Lake Burley Griffin paths.

''We have the opportunity to show the rest of Australia what we can do in providing quality cycling infrastructure for the next generation,'' Mr Armstrong said.

''Hopefully it will encourage a number of people out of their cars and on to their bikes.''

The Liberal's territory and municipal services spokesman Alistair Coe said the opposition supported ''better infrastructure for cyclists, but will keep a close eye on the Government's costings and ability to deliver''.

I dont think its designed to be attractive to riders like you or I, Mez. Its more to get other commuter type cyclists feeling more comfortable in getting around town and getting them off major footpaths. If the infrastructure supports the commuter on the city bike a little more, perhaps it will lead to less cars on the roads coming in. I imagine this would play a fairly significant role in their thinking.

Commuting from Sullivans Creek to the casino end of civic requires a crap load of footpath and shared walkway unless you are a confident cyclist. There are also a growing number of kiddie trailer commuters (me included) that would benefit from an easier transit in and around Civic.

However, how about some cycle path through Ainslie and Braddon??? Big black hole.

Any spend on cyclist infrastructure is good, I guess. Except for the inevitable backlash from bogan Alan Jones listeners...

The only bit I have used is the section along Marcus Clarke Street and I didn't like it. It feels unsafe when crossing side roads, like I'm begging to be left hooked because drivers aren't looking for cyclists off the road. It also disappears randomly and throws you into a fairly heavy pedestrian area near Alinga Street. It feels safer for me on the road.

Like mrgolf says it's probably not designed for people like me though, and I admit that I haven't ridden the rest of the route.

nescius wrote:The only bit I have used is the section along Marcus Clarke Street and I didn't like it. It feels unsafe when crossing side roads, like I'm begging to be left hooked because drivers aren't looking for cyclists off the road. It also disappears randomly and throws you into a fairly heavy pedestrian area near Alinga Street. It feels safer for me on the road.

Like mrgolf says it's probably not designed for people like me though, and I admit that I haven't ridden the rest of the route.

I got hit on the corner of Rudd and Moore St on the Green section - Bike was written off and 1 day in hospital - as you state...sometimes it's 'safer' to ride on the road

nescius wrote:The only bit I have used is the section along Marcus Clarke Street and I didn't like it. It feels unsafe when crossing side roads, like I'm begging to be left hooked because drivers aren't looking for cyclists off the road. It also disappears randomly and throws you into a fairly heavy pedestrian area near Alinga Street. It feels safer for me on the road.

Like mrgolf says it's probably not designed for people like me though, and I admit that I haven't ridden the rest of the route.

I got hit on the corner of Rudd and Moore St on the Green section - Bike was written off and 1 day in hospital - as you state...sometimes it's 'safer' to ride on the road

That's no good, how long ago was this? I hope you have healed up ok (and maybe got a new bike out of it at least?!)

It's frustrating when they throw money at a silly project like this, when $6mil can buy 6km of offroad cycle path. Yamba/Erindale Drive is begging for a proper bike/shared path that continues through to Fadden/Wanniassa.

I've ridden the Marcus Clark Street side, but not any parts or round near the casino - but if I needed to get there I'd right straight around London circuit and down Constitution Ave.

Heaps of walkers and joggers walk on the bike lane and I'm with mezla above who said the bike lane just disappears near the Kingsley's chicken shop up near Alinga Street. that 50 metres is like a dogs breakfast of ANU students on bikes and heaps of people - especially during morning or afternoon peak times. It's creep along slowly and ride at your own risk in case you hit anyone. And there are plenty of pobsos in that vicinity that ride without helmets and lights at night time so the ninja factor makes it worse.

nescius wrote:The only bit I have used is the section along Marcus Clarke Street and I didn't like it. It feels unsafe when crossing side roads, like I'm begging to be left hooked because drivers aren't looking for cyclists off the road. It also disappears randomly and throws you into a fairly heavy pedestrian area near Alinga Street. It feels safer for me on the road.

Like mrgolf says it's probably not designed for people like me though, and I admit that I haven't ridden the rest of the route.

I got hit on the corner of Rudd and Moore St on the Green section - Bike was written off and 1 day in hospital - as you state...sometimes it's 'safer' to ride on the road

That's no good, how long ago was this? I hope you have healed up ok (and maybe got a new bike out of it at least?!)

Accident happened in mid march... funny thing was I chose the race bike to ride to work.... One day off the bike ... but to the drivers credit... she admitted fault, lodged a claim with her insurance company, paid her excess, insurance claim settled very quickly and have built 2 bikes with Di2 !!!! (just need to replace the EC90s SLX's that were destroyed)

cp123 wrote:did you get left hooked? or SMIDSY? It doesn't sound like it was JDGAF though which is good.

ummmm the driver was travelling west on Rudd and turning left into Moore - I was on the Green section of the lane travelling west on Rudd and went under her car when she turned left - (she said she didn't see me)

looking back at it now the green lane on rudd is dangerous - I can easily see why the 'Accident' happened and I now choose a diffent way to get to the office if I am working out of Marcus Clarke

JDGAF - I think i have it as.. just dont give a...SMIDSY - I need schooling

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